What happened
Southwest is adding a Platinum elite tier at 140,000 qualifying points or 100 flights, with unlimited Companion Pass, and will stop counting cobrand welcome bonuses toward Companion Pass on cards approved after December 2, 2026. A-List Preferred becomes Gold.
Cobrand cards will earn one uncapped tier qualifying point per eligible dollar. $5,000 of eligible spending earns 5,000 qualifying points, and the Plus card starts earning toward status. Platinum from cobrand spend alone would take $130,000. Members who reach 130,000 tier qualifying points in 2027 get a 10,000-point boost to Platinum, with status through December 31, 2028.
A card approved by December 2, 2026 still has its welcome bonus count toward Companion Pass, even when the minimum spend lands in early 2027. That path can fund a 2027 Companion Pass that lasts through 2028. Companion Pass passenger taxes start at $5.60.
Get a Southwest Rapid Rewards card approved by December 2, 2026 if you need the welcome bonus to count toward Companion Pass.
- Ends
- Dec 2, 2026
- Travel by
- Dec 31, 2028
- Numbers
- $5.60: typical Companion Pass passenger taxes
- 140,000 qualifying points: new Platinum elite threshold
- 100 flights: new Platinum elite flight threshold
- 5,000 qualifying points: status credit per $5,000 spend under new card rules
- 10,000 tier qualifying points: 2027 boost after reaching 130,000 TQP
- 130,000 tier qualifying points: threshold for the 2027 Platinum boost
- $130,000: card spend alone to reach Platinum
- 60,000 points: Priority card welcome bonus
- 50,000 points: Plus card welcome bonus
- 80,000 points: Performance Business card welcome bonus
- Takeaway
- Apply for a Southwest Rapid Rewards card by December 2, 2026 if you want the welcome bonus to count toward Companion Pass.